Life's Little Souvenirs: Four Month Old Well Visit/Five Months Old

Age: five months, one week old.

Weight: 10 pounds, 13 ounces

Height: 22 inches

We FINALLY had our four month old well visit paired with four month old shots and I must say, I am extremely impressed with how well Avalyn did with it all. She had her nap while on the way to base this morning and had a bottle before we left the house, so she was very content when we arrived at base medical. I will admit that I was a little nervous making this trip alone and without Brian, but it had to be done. Brian had to go and run around on base and get things signed/prepared for when he checks out on February fourth. It was my first time taking Ava to see the doctor on my own so I was glad that she was making it easy on me.

After I checked us in and walked back to Pediatrics (why on Earth is the waiting room all the way in the back of the building?! Do they not know how difficult it is to lug around a baby in a carseat while holding a diaper bag by yourself???) Ava decided to perk up; she was so alert and keen on sitting up and looking around that it just blew my mind.

Once we were called back, Avalyn had her head circumference, weight, and height taken and all looked good for her age; her age is adjusted 12 weeks because that is how early she was. The doctor came in and examined her and was very impressed with her head control and loved how she was trying to sit up when she was put down on the exam table. Her eyes and ears look good, she is not teething as of right now, and everything else is looking wonderful. I was a little concerned with how Ava's head seems to tilt a little one side, so the doctor looked into that and did make note of how the side that she favors is looking a little flatter than the opposite side. So I was given some instructions on how to help get rid of that by doing some stretches with Ava.

We have been experiencing some constipation and after discussing it with her doctor, we were given the go ahead to give little miss half an ounce of juice every other day to help keep her stools soft and passable. Now before a huge debate ensues in regards to giving an infant juice, I will have you know that TWO different doctors that she has seen, as well as the on call doctor (who we call when it is after hours and need help/advice) has advised us to give her apple juice to help relieve her of this constipation. I am ok with that considering it is only half an ounce (15ml), she does not get it every day, it actually helps her, and she still takes her bottles. I know some parents may frown upon Brian and I giving her juice, but it is what helps. I also feel better knowing that I am not having to dose her up on any medication; I would much rather give her juice before I give her drugs. The doctor said that the constipation is most likely caused by her formula, but considering Ava is so close to starting solid foods that we should not have to worry about switching formulas and dealing with the hassle of finding an entirely different formula and I am okay with that.

Now what did the doctor say in regards to Ava starting solid foods? Well, she wants us to wait until she is six months old (not adjusted), but if we want to start introducing it to her we can, as long as she does not have an extrusion reflex. When we start trying to introduce her to solids and she still show signs of this reflex, we were told to wait another couple of weeks and then try again. We have tried Ava on some stage one bananas and rice cereal and she did better than I had expected her to; she still showed signs of the reflex, but she was starting to kind of get the hang of opening and closing her mouth. I think that by the end of February/beginning of March she will be completely ready for stage one foods. I am so excited!

After seeing the doctor we had to head over to immunizations to have her four month shots. I absolutely HATE it when Ava has to get shots! You would think that with having to have the RSV/Synagis shot every month I would be used to watching her get shots, but I am not! It takes a LOT of effort not to freak out on the woman jamming needles into my child's legs, not to cry, and calm the desire to scoop up my baby and run for the hills. It is so heart breaking watching a child go through that! But this time my little girl was a champ! She started getting fussy when she was put on the table and right when she was about to start screaming from not wanting to be on her back, the nurse gave her the shots. She got three shots and only screamed twice! Literally after Ava was picked up, she stopped screaming and started "talking" to the nurse. I swear it sounded like she was giving the woman a stern talking to! Almost like, "How DARE you do that to me?? What the hell were you thinking? Oh, you are going to hold me for a few minutes? Rubbing my back?! Oooh man, I think I love you! But seriously! How DARE you!" By the time we left the room Ava was smiling, looking around, and alert. Such a silly little pumpkin belly.

So now that our four month well visit has come and gone, we have another six weeks or so before our six month well visit. Six months?! Hard to believe isn't it?

So now that Avalyn is five months old I am sure a lot of you are dying to know what she has been doing? Well my little bug has accomplished many milestones in the last month!

- She is able to maintain head control while she is sitting or being held,

- She is now sitting up while being assisted; her favorite place to sit is on the couch.

- While on her tummy she can rotate herself/army crawl around her play mat and she can use her forearms to lift up her head 90 degrees.

- She can talk baby gibberish when she is being talked to; her favorite word is "uhgluh" and she loves to try to mimic the "ma" and "ba" sounds. We try "da" but she has not quite figured that one out yet.

- She can laugh, but it is really difficult to get her to do so...she likes to surprise you with it...she has such a cute laugh!

- She is starting to drool more.

- She LOVES putting things in her mouth.

I truly could go on and on! Every day I am more and more amazed by this tiny little person.

Now, I bet you are wondering what this little five month old is totally diggin' these days?

1. Small Wonders Lovie- I am not sure what you call these little blankets, but here at the Felda's we call them "lovies" and that is because Avalyn loves to love on them. She is currently obsessed with grabbing the blanket and shoving it into her mouth. She loves suckling on the silky side and rubbing her face on the fleece side. Silly little nugget!

2. Mam Anti-Colic Bottle- I love that this bottle is self-sterilizing and the silky smoothness of the nipple. Basically, we love this bottle! 'Nuff said!

3. Sophie the Giraffe- At first I had no clue what all the big hype was over a $20 rubber giraffe, but I swear my child goes nuts over this toy! Once she gets to gnawing on little Sophie's face, you had better be prepared for an ultimate melt down when you grab it from her! I took it away from her once to wipe off all of the drool and she FLIPPED OUT. Needless to say, best $20 I have spent on a child's toy.

4. Wubbanub Pacifier- My sister in law had recommended this for Ava when she saw how difficult it was for munchkin to hang on to her pacifier. So Brian and I went out and got it for her and it is one of her favorite pacifiers! The little feet have beads in them to help keep from slipping or falling off of your baby when they spit out the paci and Ava loves grabbing onto it. Plus, it has a cute little animal stuck onto it!

She also loves her play mat and swing, but those are obvious faves since most babes love those. I wonder what next month's favorites will consist of? I am just so amazed by how much Ava is starting to become aware of. Two months ago she was only interested in snoozing in her swing and now she has favorite toys...toys that she actually enjoys to play/interact with! Next thing I know she will be running around my house looking for new toys to play with...ooh dear! Let's slow it down a bit, please?!

And with that I leave you with an adorable Ava Bug covered in rice cereal!